The First Sunday After Christmas (Year C), Dec. 31, 2006
BCP and RCL: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Gal. 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18
Each lesson in today’s lectionary displays astounding reversals of fortune for the people of God, from lesser to greater, even from near extinction to magnificent, unprecedented favor.
The lesson from Isaiah comes near the end of his book of prophecies. After the unheeded warnings, resultant disasters, and fearsome punishments of the first 39 chapters comes the promise of new things. At the beginning of Chapter 40 there is a declaration that restitution has been made and comfort and deliverance are at hand. In the chapters that follow, many uplifting, encouraging, and exultant prophecies are pronounced for the people of God. The one selected for today’s reading speaks of weddings, gardens, and brightness before the entire world. The promise is rich not only with the vindication of a once-despised and rejected people, but with a vindication that is only complete when it is seen before the whole world. The nation whose temple had been destroyed, whose nobles and king had been led off in chains and given new names according to the culture of their pagan captors, is now restored. Once again they are given a new name, but this time not as a sign of humiliation but of a newness that is so fresh that even the old, proper names are insufficient.
The psalm speaks of the uniqueness of the people of God before all nations. He protects and favors them, and he whose power guides even the elements gives his word to his people and to them alone.
The Letter to the Galatians contrasts law with faith, rules and behaviors with trust and love. The lesson describes how the people have progressed from the status of slave to child, and then child to heir. The change is amazing — absolutely, eternally life-changing.
Impossible as it may seem to surpass these dramatic themes, when we move to the gospel we are taken even deeper, for in this lesson the foundation of the transformation of the entire world is set forth. Cosmic themes are presented: Here light masters darkness, glory enters into ignorance and intransigence, and the will of God surpasses even the best of human will, though without violating it. The heart of the lesson is the astonishing declaration that the Word became flesh. Human flesh, subject in a sinful world to illness, indignity, and decay, becomes the dwelling of God himself. The Word, the Son of God recognized as the One who speaks and reveals, communicates the eternity of God in a human life. Thus in these lessons we pass from what is almost certainly the best-known Bible story to its dramatic meaning — that everything in the entire world is changed, and humanity may now enter the kingdom of heaven.
Look It Up
Consider how the last verse in today’s gospel reading describes the most radical occurrence of any depicted in all the lessons for this week.
Think About It
Has there been a time in your life when you received a tremendous blessing that was completely unanticipated?
Next Sunday
The First Sunday After the Epiphany (Year C), Jan. 7, 2007
BCP: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:20-29; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16,21-22
RCL: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17,21-22
